Explaining that you are running late in Japanese

The idea

止まっています describes a train that is stopped now. １０分ぐらい遅れて着きます gives the approximate length of the delay. ３時１０分ごろ着きます gives an estimated arrival time, not the length of the delay.

Examples

• すみません、少すこし遅おくれます。Sorry, I’m running a little late.
• 電車でんしゃが止とまっています。The train has stopped.
• 駅えきに１０分じゅっぷんぐらい遅おくれて着つきます。I’ll arrive at the station about ten minutes late.
• 午後ごご３時じ１０分じゅっぷんごろ駅えきに着つきます。I’ll arrive at the station around 3:10 p.m.
• 今いまからそちらに向むかいます。I’m on my way to you now.
• お待またせして、どうもすみませんでした。I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.

Watch out

Ten minutes late is not necessarily ten minutes from now. Give an estimate only if you have one and update it if it changes.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct answer: 電車でんしゃが＿＿います。（止とまって／飲のんで）

   Show answer or example answer

   止まって

   止まっています describes a train that is stopped now.

2. Choose the correct answer: 駅えきに十分じゅっぷんぐらい＿＿着つきます。（遅おくれて／読よんで）

   Show answer or example answer

   遅れて

   １０分ぐらい遅れて着きます gives the approximate length of the delay.

3. Choose the correct answer: 午後ごご三時さんじ十分じゅっぷんごろ駅えきに＿＿。（着つきます／出でます）

   Show answer or example answer

   着きます

   ３時１０分ごろ着きます gives an estimated arrival time, not the length of the delay.

Use it today

Practise a short exchange aloud, then adapt it to your own situation.